A Little Light Reading to Prepare you for the Season

By and large, southern fly fishers are tailwater fishers.  In a region with few spring fed streams, and virtually no glacier or snow melt, it takes a dam to create water conditions that help trout to thrive.  Hydroelectric power has been a boon to many areas, providing abundant and inexpensive power, while producing cold, clear, oxygenated water with many food sources.  Hard to believe they weren’t built solely for the benefit of we trout bums.

I wanted to share two books with you that will increase your pleasure of fishing tailwaters in general, and southern tailwaters in particular.   The first is “Ozark Trout Tales” by Steve Wright.  I’ve read this one over and over, having originally stumbled on an autographed copy at Dale Fulton’s Blue Ribbon Fly Shop near Mountain Home, Arkansas.  Wright’s book, written in a flowing, easy to read style, sets the stage by providing a history of fishing on the White River System,  and discussing the impact of the dams built for hydroelectric power.  Starting with Beaver (one of my favorite tailwaters) and continuing downstream through Table Rock, Bull Shoals, North Fork, and finally the Little Red, the author takes us on a survey of key spots for trout fishing in the Ozarks.

More than a book for your favorite reading chair, Wright has given us a stream side companion, a book that will spend as much time in your vehicle as on your coffee table.  Each destination is treated with care, including river access details, local history, and attractions.  While purists (guilty) may recoil at the idea of fishing with worms or live sculpin, these are included, as are key fly patterns for each area.  This book is a treasure for the beginner and seasoned Ozark angler, alike.

Wright’s eye for unique individuals in the region adds a special flavor to the book with insights into fishing methods, the character of the river, and the impact on the region of these “man-made” trout streams.  An example is Charlie Vincent, a transplant from the high plains of western Kansas, who has perfected the art of luring big trout with nightcrawler in the White River near Branson, Missouri.

 If you think you know everything about trout fishing in the Ozarks, this book will gently prove you wrong, while encouraging you to revisit favorite spots and try new ones.  While the book is, sadly, out of print, an online search revealed several sources of used copies in good condition.

A newer book, “50 Best Tailwaters to Fly Fish” seeks to provide national coverage of tailwater fishing opportunities, and (you’ve been warned) may create serious wanderlust, mapping, and planning activities for the more adventuresome.  Seriously, the book is a virtual national compendium of tail water fishing opportunities, and provides great detail for each fishery it covers, from fishing methods to guides to lodging and food.  Generally written by locals, and curated by Terry and Wendy Gunn, this book takes a bit of a chance with such a wide range of streams, and pulls it off well.

Fittingly, a section on our beloved south is included, with specific coverage of Ozark streams including the North Fork, White, and Little Red.  On those streams in particular I was able to vouch for the integrity of the included material.  I also noted that the section on Tennessee’s Caney Fork River was well done, including information about access to the river from the Interstate 40 westbound rest area near Lebanon.  

“50 Best” is a great way to become acquainted with great fishing opportunities across our great land, and is an excellent resource for both travelers who look for local fishing opportunities, and those seeking to plan an expedition solely for fishing one or more of these great locations.  I’ve already dog-eared page 7, on the San Juan River in New Mexico.  Stay tuned. 

I hope you will find time to enjoy one or both of these books on a rainy or snowy day, and then take them afield with you.  Tight Lines!

What I'm Reading, Part 1

This week, across 6 flight segments, I read "Lord Grizzly" by Fredrick Manfred. It is a novelized account, drawing on many sources, of Hugh Glass' ordeal in South Dakota territory after having been mauled by a grizzly. Some of you may have seen the movie, The Revenant, which is based on the same story. 

Manfred's style is engaging, and carries the reader along. His research, detailed in his daughter's introduction to the book, greatly adds to the authenticity of his writing. As one of five tomes in Manfred's "Buckskin Tales" series, Lord Grizzly captures the spirt of the American west in the early 1800s, and also speaks to human experiences of struggle, suffering, redemption, and forgiveness. Highly recommended.

Spring Creek

A sun-dappled run at Fisherman's Paradise

University Park airport is typical of many smaller airports from the past, offering quick ingress and egress to the traveler, while conveniently located to its primary constituency - in this case, Penn State University.  Prior to making my annual trek to lecture at a banking school, I investigated local fly fishing options, and via the wonders of the Internet - namely, Reddit, I was pointed to Spring Creek, by all counts the best wild Brown trout stream in Pennsylvania, certainly in the area.  

Not more than 15 minutes after my plane landed, I was carefully following Siri's directions to a place called "Fisherman's Paradise"  After a couple of false starts, I stopped at what appeared to be a public access area, and quickly assembled my gear. I brought along my 6wt St Croix Imperial, a Ross C-4, and a small box of flies.  In the interest of space, I left my waders at home, having been told that bank fishing was actually required at Fisherman's Paradise.  I found sturdy footing at the stream's edge and began casting across the stream with a bead-head Sow Bug, allowing it to drift.  I did see a fish or two, but for the most part the speed of the flow made a realistic drift very difficult, as structure to my left, upstream, created a converging tongue of current moving much faster than the surrounding water.  That belly was too big and persistent to mend.  Allowing the line to unfold further downstream, I was successful in getting a couple of strikes, and briefly hooking a fish.  Not much to write home about, however.

After 15 minutes or so, I heard a car pull up and someone get out.   A voice called "what's going on down there" to which I turned and answered "not much."  A friendly, bearded fellow made his way down the bank and I told him of my search for Fisherman's Paradise.  "Oh, this is not it - but you can follow me there, its just down the road.  You didn't go far enough."  We made introductions and he told me of his evening the day before at this little spot, where some blues were hatching.  He also told me of the locals' tolerance of fly fisherman, in spite of much of the creek's banks being private land.  I had noticed a number of homes along the creek as I drove in.

Breaking down my rod, I loaded it in my rental car and prepared to follow my new friend to Fisherman's Paradise.  As on the drive in, the route along Spring Creek rivaled text messages for driving distractions.  This is a beautiful, free flowing stream with lots of structure and varied water, shining in the afternoon sun.  Only a mile down the road, we reached Fisherman's Paradise, which appeared exactly as described by fellow Reddit fly fishers.  An ample parking area, and roughly 200 yards of stream easily accessible from the bank.  My “guide" had come prepared to fish deeper up the canyon, and I left him to gear up while I sought a suitable spot to cast from.  Having been waist deep in the middle of Arkansas' North Fork River only a week earlier, casting into a tree and weed lined stream only 10 yards across was quite the change of pace.  The afternoon sun was high in the sky, and doubly bright due to the reflection from the water.  Nothing in the way of a hatch was visible, so I continued to ply the water with my Sow Bug, before switching to an olive Woolly Bugger.

Challenging casting conditions!

I encountered a novice fly fisher from Texas, who, like me had found Spring Creek and Fisherman’s Paradise via the Internet prior to his business travel.  We discussed the stream conditions, and watched a small water snake make his way around a brush pile extending from the far bank, before parting ways to continue our efforts to fool a fish.

The weather this week in Pennsylvania was unusually warm, even for late July, and this was clearly impacting the fish. None of the half dozen anglers visible up and down the bank were landing any fish.  I moved further upstream, and found a small clear pool where a number of fish could be seen holding in the depths.  In spite of my best efforts,  including skimming a mouse pattern across the surface, I was not able to get a rise out of any of them.  As darkness fell, footsteps across the stream carried a whitetail to the stream to drink, and I paused casting to simply enjoy the proximity to the magnificent creature.   I resigned myself to having fished in a new state,  and having identified a great location.  I’m already looking forward to a return visit this summer, and will hopefully be better prepared.

Tight Lines!

/TF

Stalking Large Browns

Catching trout on a fly is fun, regardless of the size or species.  As with any pursuit, once one gets the basics down, there are often areas of specialization to explore.  Some fly fishers focus on stalking larger fish, often enduring days on the water without a fish, using techniques designed to lure the very largest fish from their lairs.  In many regions, this most often means Brown trout, and night fishing.  While some trips result in fish, all of them result in learning.

One key to understanding trout, especially big ones, is their tendency toward conserving energy.  This impacts where they hang out, what they eat, and how they eat.  They will not fight the current when ready shelter is close by.  They will choose larger prey as it provides more protein per portion. Let’s look at food, habits, and shelter to increase our chances of taking a larger fish.

What will Browns eat? Of course, the range of aquatic insects remains in play at all stages, but the small size of most insects makes them problematic for larger fish.  The venerable sowbug deserves its reputation as a trout food, and is a great fly for nymphing.  Many an observant angler has seen a larger Brown ramming into a matt of weeds or moss to dislodge multiple sowbugs to gorge on.  Terrestrials are also sought after food sources, though again, size matters.  Ants, hoppers, and the periodic hatch of “katydids” (cicada) are sought after by trout. They will eat smaller fish, including those of their own species, as well as leeches, a favorite food of many other large fish, including Largemouth Bass.  The crawfish pattern, often used for Smallmouth Bass, will regularly catch trout, which may say something about the extent to which they are also trout food.  The largest fish will also eat small rodents, and by some accounts, even small birds or fowl, given the opportunity. No doubt the amount of protein offered here is attractive. Because trout hunt as much by feel as by sight, fishing for them successfully requires a lure that will move water ahead of it, activating lateral line sensors and attracting fish.  Sensitivity to motion and pressure waves also means you want to minimize wading and movement once you begin fishing.  

Let’s translate these food preferences into what to fish with.   I’m a creature of habit.  Forced to pick a fly, I will pick a woolly bugger first, as you’ve seen in my writing by now.  When probing for larger fish, I’m going to tie on a larger fly, size 6 or larger, using olive drab or lighter during the day, and black at night.  While larger fish may often take a smaller offering, there is a point at which smaller fish will shy away from larger flies.  So an important concept for me is to fish with a larger fly to discourage smaller trout.  I like a beadhead because of the extra weight.  I believe it is worth it to use a sinking tip line instead of split shot, as I generally don’t like the way split shot makes me cast (we all need something to blame poor technique, on, right?) but I know that under some conditions, a split shot or two is invaluable, especially in helping your fly to stay close to the bottom as you try to bump a fly through deeper water.  My woolly bugger technique is simple, drift and strip back.  The rate and speed of the strip is varied in order to cover more water: slower for deeper, faster as you attempt to work the middle and top of the water column.  

Larger, even oversized terrestrials are also useful, at the right time of the year.  Most often, these are fished on top, with the plop of the fly on the water serving as a dinner bell for feeding trout. This is typically the fall, when water is low and the weather has been dry, but of course the cicada hatch brings its own action when it occurs.  Observing the stream and fish activity prior to fishing is an important step in selecting the right fly.    Mouse patterns are often used for larger fish, and while Browns are notorious for eating rodents, Rainbows and other trout may also partake, given the opportunity.  Hard to prevent this, but enjoy the take and the fight no matter what species “takes the bait.”  A good mouse pattern is lobbed over a likely spot and skated back to you in order to simulate a swimming motion.  High sticking works well, as the tight line allows you to not only stay near the surface, but to impart some side to side motion.  You might practice this in a pond or back yard pool before hitting the water, in order to observe and critique your efforts.  Finally, you could choose a fish pattern, the various streamer and minnow concoctions that seek to mimic the younger of the the species.  A number of anglers use a “drop jaw” streamer that produces a larger wake in front of the fly.  I fish these similar to a woolly bugger, drifting and stripping at various levels of the water column to ensure that I’m reaching all areas that might hold fish.

Where are the large trout? Trout will choose the portion of the water column that best protects them from predators, in addition to providing a suitable hunting ground.  Too often, anglers focus on the surface . . . the speed and direction of the current, actively feeding fish, seams that indicate changes or confluence of current, and visible structure including logs or rocks.  These are important, but are only the start of effectively reading the water.  Just below the surface, conditions can be quite different.  Water may move more slowly, (which might mean that your strike indicator is dragging that nymph along at an unrealistic rate) and there may be fish cover that, while harder to see, directly impacts the feeding habits of fish. Consider large rocks or boulders in the stream.  Those that emerge out of the water are easy - you know that they provide a lee side where fish can hold out of the current, watching for food, and easily slip out to feed, and return to less turbulent water.  Drifting the right fly past that rock is often an effective tool for catching fish.  But what if there’s a boulder there that you can’t see?  Perhaps only two to three feet above the bottom, it provides the same shelter from the current, in a much calmer environment, where the trout is not exposed to predators like birds of prey.  This is how trout grow old and big.  

Along the bank is another opportunity for larger trout habitat.  The overhang and vegetation that may exist there, including the occasional tree or large branch that has fallen into the water, provides desirable cover.  Again, using our theory of conservation, we can assume that fish would prefer to hold along the bank where there may be slack water, rather than in the middle of the stream.  This is especially true when the dams on our beloved tail waters are called into service for producing electricity and water levels are up and fast.  In this case, casting streamers or mouse patterns into the bank and stripping them back will often bring fish to the fly in spectacular fashion.  

The limb or tree that has fallen into the water brings additional opportunities for those seeking large trout, as there is not only cover at the surface, but likely branches extending downward into the water, perhaps far enough to provide shelter for larger fish who are sifting the current for food.  Care is needed here, and perhaps a stripping approach, as too much drifting near these deadfalls will result in your contributing another bauble to adorn the branches.

Man made structures can also be holding spots for larger fish, including bridge footings, extended aprons of boat ramps, and even boat docks that have been in place for a period of time.  Of course, access to these may require a boat, rather than wading, except in periods of low water.  Treat these structures as you would boulders or branches.  They will provide cover and protection from current, attracting fish seeking to minimize effort and maximize protein intake.

When to fish for the really big ones is a subject of much discussion.  I firmly believe that night is the right time.  The larger fish really seem to be nocturnal, probably from a defensive mechanism, and our techniques will work well in that environment.  The lack of fishing pressure is also attractive, giving you better access to desirable portions of the river.  I find the milder winter evenings to be very enjoyable, and I think you will too.  Don’t forget to take time to enjoy your surroundings, from the splash of an otter to the blazing trail of a shooting star, or the glow of a rising moon.

The casual angler will approach a stretch of water with the standard techniques, and perhaps do quite well in terms of quantity of fish taken.  Our angler in search of the very largest fish, however, will employ different techniques, designed to explore areas of the stream, as described above, that will likely hold trophy size fish.

From a practical and a safety standpoint, take time to learn about the water you are going to fish at night, before it gets dark.  Doing so will help you to understand the water and the habitat, and help you to plan your night fishing.  Plan a day trip to your desired stretch of water, and do some fishing while observing the habitat for signs of large fish cover.  While wading is possible most of the year, winter will be a better time due to less generation.  In summer, under normal conditions, your best bet is from a boat, except for the coveted periods of no overnight generation.

I’ll leave you with three suggestions

1) Fish the water you know

2) Choose larger flies and learn to deliver them well

3) Be patient

Tight Lines!

/TF

Father and Sons

A rare lull in generation provided an opportunity for a morning’s fishing on the North Fork River below Norfork Dam.  Having picked the boys up at camp near Branson a day earlier, we bivouacked in Mountain Home, and headed to Quarry Park on Saturday morning.  The boys were still recovering from their camp experiences, so an early day was not possible, even though I knew our best chances would be before 9 a.m.  Sometimes you make do.  Our first visit was to Dry Run Creek, for Hank, the youngest, to try his luck on this outstanding fishery.  Designed for children under 16 to learn to read water and entice trout to take a fly, the creek is a magical place.  We found the flow rate rather high, but determined to do our best, began to work a favorite pool that has produced consistently for years.  A variety of trout could be seen holding throughout the pool and the emptying run.  

 

 

 

We prepared Hank with a smallish Sow Bug and a strike indicator, and soon he was casting across the current and working the drift.  These are tight quarters, and on more than one occasion a leaf or limb was the victim of an errant cast.  Overall, he was able to make several good casts and execute a proper drift.  Cast, mend, drift, repeat.  These trout, holding in the current, barely sniffed at his fly, and several actually moved to avoid it as it drifted downstream!  We noticed a couple of larger fish working against the far bank, but neither seemed interested in our offerings.  Perhaps they’d been up early feeding, and we had not.

 It was already a hot day, though down by the creek it was not quite so bad.  We wanted to try the river, just across the parking lot from Dry Run, so Hank secured his gear and we headed back to the truck.  

On the North Fork River we found, as promised, that generation was non-existant, with only the minimum flow water coursing from the dam.  By now we were all in waders. Entering near the Quarry boat ramp, we began to trek downstream to find space to fish.  There were a number of folks on the river, but few were fly fishing.   Luke, fresh out of high school and headed to study engineering as a Razorback this fall, tied on an olive Wooly Bugger, and began to drift and strip it back, through the deeper run against the far bank that held the most current.  I chose to drift a Sow Bug in a bit shallower water, so as to gauge the location and appetite of the fish.   We both had some interest from a few fish, but the action was slow and the fish seemed sluggish, probably from the heat.  Hank stood nearby, and I had hopes of handing off the rod once a fish was on.  As is typical of middle schoolers, he soon lost interest in my casting, and, taking my wading staff, began to explore the shallows around the near bank.  Of course, once he was some distance away, a nice rainbow decided my Sow Bug was the chosen one, and I had a fish on!  After several nice runs, he came to the net, and Luke used the GoPro Hero to record the moment. 

 

 

By noon, the flow in the river had slowed, likely due to increasing generation on the White River just a few miles downstream, and we had miles to go - and a waiting mother hen who was ready to see her chicks after their week at camp.

It’s hard to have a bad day on the White River system, and today was no exception. A lack of fish was far overcome by father and son time, and the beauty and serenity of the North Fork.

New Tackle Store in the Memphis Area

Having heard about a new tackle store in Bartlett, here in the greater Memphis area, from our friend Larry Rea and others, my son and I decided we should go have a look.  David Best’s new store “Primary Tackle” is a treasure of warm water fishing gear and advice.  He features a wide selection of plastic worms, spinner baits, hooks and related terminal tackle, along with rods and reels.  Videos are playing with “how-to” advice on rigging your gear, and fishing tactics that work.   David took us into the back room where he has an aquarium set up to demonstrate the proper use, and resulting action, of various baits.  

Here’s Luke spending some of his hard-earned graduation money on a McCain Swamp Series, “The Beast” rod. 

Primary Tackle is offering fishing classes on Tuesday evenings, using their ample classroom space. These classes will help the beginner better prepare for their next trip, while more advanced anglers will learn new techniques to step up their game.

In an era of big box retailers, it is great to see a local store catering to local interests.  Please go by and meet David and his staff, and pick up something.  I promise it will not be your only visit to Primary Tackle!

Learn more at www.primarytackle.com

Tight Lines!

/TF

A Fly Rod of Your Own - Great Stories for Fly-fishers

I think I discovered Gierach about the time I discovered fly fishing.  I can’t claim to have read all his books, but certainly most of them.  I mean, who could resist the title “Trout Bum?”  When I saw that Gierach had a new book out, “A Fly Rod of Your Own” I immediately ordered a copy (and yes, in a fit of self indulgence I ordered an autographed copy.) 

I always feel like I’m just along for the ride when Gierach tells his stories.  His style makes you comfortable, and you just settle in as the story unfolds.

Many of the stories in this most recent book involve the north country and the primary mode of transportation there: bush planes.  For me, these locales increase the lure of the stories, as steelhead, char, and the like are foreign to my experience. I’ve never fished out of the continental US!  Not all of the stories are about exotic locales, however.  He writes about fishing a crawfish pattern in a local lake with the familiarity of a hockey player leveraging the sweet spot on the boards on his home ice.

Other stories range from fishing trips across the lower 48 to thoughts on guiding, choosing a fishing partner (or do they choose you?) and other musings on this pursuit that so many of us hold dear.  I’m afraid to go into too much detail for fear of spoiling a story, but here are a few examples.

In an almost autobiographical comment, Geirach says

“This river is like a favorite author who could write a book about knitting and we’d still read it . . . “ and of course, in spite of advice from experts to the contrary, they fish the river that day.

In discussing camp food, he wisely advocates for simplicity: “Like fly-fishing itself, the simplicity of it can easily be smothered under too much equipment and technique.”  Think about that for a minute or two.

One quote in particular stays with me “. . . the best advice you can give either a fisherman or a writer is: Don’t do what everyone else does.  Avoid cliches’."

 

Gierach gets it.  The “it" of why we travel and fish and talk about fly-fishing.  His writing is always engaging, and you will have to pace yourself in order not to miss the subtlety of his observations.  Don’t read this one all at once!  Get a copy for yourself, and a friend, your dad, even a random stranger.  

Tight Lines!

/TF